Students persevere, D-Day vet remembers

Thumbs up for providing fun and inspiration go out to 11-year-old Will Hindle, featured this week in a story about riding to school on his bicycle every day of his fifth-grade year.

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Posted Jun. 21, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Posted Jun. 21, 2014 at 2:00 AM

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Thumbs up for providing fun and inspiration go out to 11-year-old Will Hindle, featured this week in a story about riding to school on his bicycle every day of his fifth-grade year.

The distance from the Hindles' home on Rands Lane in Rye to the school is just over half a mile, not a long distance, but not always easy, especially on frigid or snowy winter days. His father, Ray, says his son "always wanted to do it," and Will no doubt learned a lot about the value of setting a goal and sticking to it.

Teachers at Rye Elementary School challenged students to set a goal for themselves in August, and this is the goal Will set for himself.

Taylor Hindle said she offered her son rides on the cold days and did spend some time worrying about Will and his 7-year-old brother, Gar, who joined him on the rides sometimes. But she said it was important to let the boys learn and that Will and his brother and some friends who have joined in at times have learned to bike on the road with awareness and safety.

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Thumbs up many times over go out to 98-year-old World War II veteran Graham Alvord, who lives in Kittery Point, Maine, and recently returned from 70th anniversary D-Day events in France.

We've talked about Alvord in this space before, but it's impossible to say enough. He was part of a small group of D-Day veterans who met with President Barack Obama and later sat on the stage with him and French President François Hollande during ceremonies at Omaha Beach. He was the only D-Day veteran from the United States given a place of honor in a ceremony the same day at Sword Beach.

"I am delighted I did it," he said, also noting at his age he doesn't normally make long-term plans for anything, much less trips to France. "I feel wonderful about it. How many people in their 98th year have something this big happen?"

Alvord expressed gratitude for the trip, during which people from many countries thanked him for his service. He also acknowledged shedding tears during the Omaha Beach ceremony. "It was very personal. It was very real. Thousands of kids ended their lives there," he said.

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Thumbs up are due for Nickolas Anzalone, the entire eighth-grade class and the community at Hampton Academy following an emotional graduation ceremony on Tuesday night.

Anzalone, who has been through 26 rounds of chemotherapy and had five tumors removed since last summer, showed determination and courage in attending the ceremony for 136 students in the graduating class. In return, classmates, parents and school staff showed him much love.

Anzalone was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, late last summer. He has been in a wheelchair in the months since the removal of his sacrum in a surgery.

When it came time on Tuesday to hand out certificates for graduation, Hampton Academy Principal Dave O'Connor announced to Anzalone, "We're coming to you." Many people in attendance were brought to tears by this moment. Anzalone also received two standing ovations. Nick's parents, Christine and John, both talked about how badly Nick wanted to see his friends and how grateful they were for the support on Tuesday night and throughout the last many months.

It was an inspiring night and remarkable feat for Nick, who was due Thursday for the first part of a double-lung surgery. Best wishes to the Anzalone family.